Extensible desk top



April 24,1934. J CLARK 1,956,005

EXTENSIBLE DESK TOP Filed Nov. 7, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l April 24, 1934.

Filed Nov. 7, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 MW 9 .0 iw \NQ a mi A E 5; g g 5:: E; 2;; mm J m mw m Wu AW R w @w a, fl

April 24, 1934'. m. CLARK 1,956,005

EXTENSIBLE DESK TOP Filed Nov. 7, 1928 3 Sheet s-Sheet s u a Q' Q "Q I k: Q 31 fizz/e217?! @6515. Clark Patented Apr. 24, 1934 NITE. STATES EXTENSIBLE DESK TOP ApplicationNovember '7, 1928, Serial No. 317,864

Claims.

This invention relatesto an extensible top for furniture construction and it pertains more particularly to a commercial bookkeepers desk adapted to vbe used with a bookkeeping machine and a portable posting tray so that the bookkeeper may expeditiously make entries, consult various card indexes, etc. with comfort and convenience.

In modern bookkeeping. practice it is desirable to provide a bookkeeper-with a complete plant" in which the desk must preferably be compact and relatively small.

An object of thisinvention is to provide such a desk with an extensible top whereby adequate space maybe provided for sorting checks, bills and other papers. examining large and bulky ledgers, etc.

A further object-is toprovide an extensible top in which the entire top surface is in a single plane when it is in an extended position.

A further object is to-provide an extensible top in which a portion of the structure serves as a back for the desk when said top is in closed position.

Another object is to provide-a desk of this'type with a telescoping guard rail:.which serves to prevent-the front of the extendingtop from tipping forward.

Other objectswill be apparent asthe detail description of my invention proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein similar parts are represented by likereference characters throughout the several-views,

Figure 1 is a perspective of my. improved bookkeepers. desk showing the. top in closed position with the pivotedportion. forming: a back for the desk and showing. the relative position ofthe bookkeeping machine;

Figure 2 is a. similar perspective showing the desk top in extended. position with the back folded downto form a part .of the. top;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through my improved desk top showingthestructural details of a preferred form taken generally on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a similar view of .thesection shown in Fig. 3 but with the desk inclosed position;

Figure 5 is a section taken along the. lines 55 of Figure 3 with some of the details omitted for clarity;

Figure 6 is a horizontal section of -a second embodiment of my. invention,-and

Figure 7 is a similar section with the desk in closed position.=

Referring to Figures -1 and 2-, a desk 10' is provided with simple drawers 11 and a slidable top 12. This top is preferably provided with an extension 13 for utilizing the space between thedesk and the bookkeeping machine 14, a cut-away portion 15 being provided to allow the carriage 16 of the bookkeeping machine to travel therein. A pivoted member 17 serves as a back for this desk in closed position (see Fig. 1) and is adaptedto turn into the plane of the desk top to form a continuous top surface therefor in extended position (see Fig. 2).

The desk is provided with end guard rails 18 and 19 and with a rear guard rail 20. The end guard rails are provided with offset rebent flanges 21- and 22 which form a guide for receiving the guard rails 23 and 24 on the'slidable topmember 12. Guard rail 24 is connected with a guard rail 25 extending across the rear of projection 13. The function of the guard rails is to prevent papers, checks or cards from being blown or pushed off the desk and a further function of said guard rails is to provide a reenforcementand toprevent the front-0f the extended portion from tipping downwardly when a heavy object is placed thereon.

In Figures 3, 4, and 5 I have shown an embodiment of my invention in which the pivoted'top is not positively connected with the slidable top. This modification may be mounted directlyon the top of a desk or it may be mounted on an auxiliary top 26 provided with a front rebent flange 27 for providing reenforcement and simulating thickness, and with a rear flange 28 adapted to be secured to the rear guard rail 20.

A lateral flange 29 secured to auxiliary top 26 may be employed for securing this auxiliary top to an existing article of furniture, apertures 30 being provided in this flange for suitable rivets or screws.

A hinge 31 is secured to the rear guard rail 20 and to the pivoted top member 1'7 by hinge leaves 32 and 33 respectively.

The pivoted top member 17 may beformedby bending a sheet of metal as shown in Figure 4;

starting with flange 35 the sheet is bent'to-form &

an end 36, a top 37, and another end 38. The bottom 39, is a separate element fitting under the flange 35 to form a closed rectangular section. The top is preferably provided with a suitable covering 40 such as linoleum, the ends carrying metallic strips 41 and 42 for protecting the exposed edges of the top material 40.

The slidable top'portion consists of a metal plate 43 having a front rebent flange 44 to reenforce it and to simulate thickness. The rear part of sheet 4.3 consists of a downwardly extending flange terminating in a rearwardly extending flange 46. The rearwardly extending portion serves as a guide and stop member for positioning the pivoted top member 1'7 in alinement with the slidable top member 12. The slidable top member is also provided with a suitable covering material 47 such as linoleum, the edges of said material being protected by suitable binding strips 48 and 49.

Between the slidable top portion and the auxiliary top 26 I provide a suitable roller suspension means 50. This may consist of front rollers 51, rear rollers 52 mounted on shafts 53 held in spaced position by bars 54, the whole assembly acting as a truck to support the slidable top and to provide a substantially frictionless sliding suspension means therefor. The outward movement of this slidable suspension means is limited by stop member 55 secured to auxiliary top 26 and its inner movement limited by stop member 56. The rear portion of stop member 56 is provided with an offset flange 57 adapted to co-act with a flange 58 carried by the slidable top to limit the outer movement of the top and to prevent the extended portion from tipping downwardly.

In Figures 6 and '7 I have shown an embodiment in which the pivoted top portion is in two sections, one of which is pivotally mounted to the slidable portion. The auxiliary top 26 with the guard rails 18, 19, 20, etc. are the same as have been already described. In this modification, however, the edges of the metal strips 59 and 61 are rolled to form a part of hip es 31, and 62 respectively, hinge 31 being secured to rear guard rail 20 as by welding and hinge 62 being secured to slidable top 12 by hinge leaf 63. Any conventional slidable mounting means may be employed to reduce friction or if desired the slidable top may slide directly on the auxiliary top 26.

The operation of the device as above described is obvious. When the pivoted member 1'? of Figures 3 to 5 is in its upper position and the slidable member 12 is closed, leaf 2-3 on end 38, rests on the top surface of the slidable portion to hold the pivoted portion 1'7 firmly in its upper position whereby it may serve as a fixed back to the desk. As the slidable portion is extended, the rebent flanges 21 and 22 hold guard rails 23 and 24 and prevent a weight on the front part of the slidable top from tipping it downwardly. When the slidable portion is in its extreme position flange 58 fits snugly under flange 57, stopping this member so that it will register with the pivoted top 17, the latter being alined by the rearwardly extending flange 46 on the slidable portion. The operation of the device illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 is similar to that above described, except that no stop or guide means are necessary. In the closed position hinge 62 contacts with hinge 31 so that plates 59 and 61 extend vertically against rear guard rail 20 to form a back for the desk. When the top is extended this back is'automatically converted into top surface to increase the effective area of the desk top. The telescoping guard rails perform the same function as in the other modification.

While I have described preferred embodiments of my invention it is understood that I am not limited to the details set forth, except as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a commercial bookkeepers desk. an auxiliary top member, a slidable top member, means for slidably mounting said sliding top on said auxiliary top, means for limiting movement of said sliding top in bothdirections, a guard rail fixed to said auxiliary top, a pivoted top member hinged to said guard rail to swing upwardly above the surface of the desk whereby said pivoted top is alined with said slidable top in extended position and whereby it is supported in a vertical position by said slidable top when closed.

2. A desk of the type described comprising a body, an auxiliary top, a forwardly slidable top. mounted thereon, foldable top means between the rearward edge of the slidable top and the rearward edge of the body for rearwardly extending the surface of the slidable top along substantially the plane thereof when the top is in its forward position, said foldable top comprising a plurality of hinged leaves rigidly supported by said auxiliary top when extended, the forward edge of the forward leaf being hinged to the rearward edge of the slidable top, and the rearward edge of the rearward leaf being hinged, to the rearward edge of the body whereby, when said slidable top is in its rearward position, the leaves are folded upwardly into substantially ver-- tical position.

3. A desk of ti e type described comprising a body, a forwardly slidable top mounted thereon, foldable top means between the rearward edge of the slidable top and the rearward edge of the body for rearwardly extending the surface of the slidable top along substantially the plane there of when the top is in its forward position, said foldable top comprising a plurality of hinged leaves, the forward edge of the forward leaf being hinged to the rearward edge of the slidable top, and the rearward edge of the rearward leaf being hinged to the rearward edge of the body whereby, when said slidable top is in its rearward position, the leaves are folded upwardly into substantially vertical position, and an upstanding wall extending across the back edge of the body, said leaves being of substantially the height of the back wall whereby, when they are folded to their upward position, the leaves lie adjacent and substantially parallel with the back wall and extend upwardly to approximately the height of the back Wall.

4. In a desk of the class described, a top there- I member pivotally secured at the corner formed by the junction of the said guard rail with the said frame and adapted to swing upwardly above n the working surface of the desk, said pivoted top member being adjustable for providing an additional area of working surface 'on said desk in the same plane as said slidable top member whenever the same is in its forward position, and means providing a stop for limiting the forward movement of said slidable top member at that position just suflicient to provide a space to accommodate said pivoted top member so that a continuous enlarged area of working surface may be provided on said desk.

5. In a desk of the class described, a top surface construction comprising a frame member at the upper extremity of said desk, a top member providing a normal area of working surface on its said desk and mounted upon said frame member so as to permit relative forward and rearward movement with respect to said frame member, a relatively low upstanding sheet metal strip along the rear side of said desk providing a guard rail for the desk surface and a stop for determining the rearmost position of said movable top member, a second top member pivoted along its rearward edge at said rail to swing between a horizontal position and a vertical position, means associated with said movable top member for aligning the upper surface thereof in the same plane with that of the pivoted member whenever the latter is in its horizontal position, and means for limiting the forward movement of said movable top member at that position just sufficient to provide a space for accommodating said pivoted member in a horizontal position for providing an extended continuous area of working surface on said desk.

6. In a desk top of the class described, a sliding top member, a pivoted top member, means for mounting said members on a desk, a flange member carried by said sliding member, and means for limiting the movement of said sliding member in one direction whereby the flange member co-acts with the pivoted member to align the upper surface thereof in the same plane with that of the slidable member for providing an enlarged continuous surface portion.

7. In furniture top construction, a slidable top member and a pivoted top member, a rearwardly extending flange on the rear of said slidable member for cooperating with the free end of the pivoted member to align the upper surface thereof. in the same plane with that of the slidable member for providing a continuous extended area of working surface, and a forwardly extending bracket secured to the rear of said slidable member for limiting its movement in one direction and for looking it in extended position.

8. In furniture top construction, a sliding top member providing a normal area of working surface on said desk, a pivoted top member adjustable for providing an additional area of working surface on said desk in the same plane as the surface of said sliding top member, and means comprising a flange member disposed along one edge of said sliding top member supportably engaging the movable edge of said pivoted member along its length for aligning the surfaces of said members on their contiguous edges to provide an enlarged continuous area of working surface on said desk in the same plane.

9. In furniture top construction, a slidable top member and a pivoted top member, a rearwardly extending flange on the rear of said slidable member for cooperating with the movable end of the pivoted member to align the upper surface thereof with that of said slidable member for providing a continuous enlarged area of working surface in the same plane, and means for limiting the forward movement of said slidable member at that position just sufficient to provide a space for accommodating said pivoted member in a horizontal position.

10. In a desk of the class described an articulated working top surface comprising a sliding surface member and a folding surface member, said folding surface member comprising a plurality of hinged leaves one of which is pivotally secured at the back of said desk and the other of which is pivotally secured to the rear edge of said sliding surface member, said sliding surface member being forwardly movable to position the leaves of said folding surface member in a horizontal plane to provide an enlarged continuous area of working surface and said sliding surface member being rearwardly movable to fold said leaves bellows-like or zig-zag into a substantially vertical plane at the rear of said desk.

JAMES R. CLARK. 

